BOOK VII.] History of Nature. 205 



CHAPTER XXI. 

 Examples of good Eyesight. 



WE find in Histories almost incredible Examples of 

 Sharpness of the Eyes. Cicero hath recorded, that the Poem 

 of Homer called the Iliad, written on Parchment, was en- 

 closed within a Nutshell. The same Writer maketh mention 

 of one who could see to the Distance of 135 Miles. And 

 M.Varro nameth the Man, saying that he was called Strabo; 

 and that during the Carthaginian War he was accustomed to 

 stand upon Lilybaeum, a Promontory of Sicily, and discover 

 the Fleet coming out of the Harbour of Carthage ; he was 

 also able to tell even the Number of the Ships. Callicrates 

 made Emmets, and other equally small Creatures, out of 

 Ivory, so that other Men could not discern the Parts of their 

 Bodies. A certain Myrmecides was excellent in that kind of 

 Workmanship ; who of the same Material carved a Chariot 

 with four Wheels, which a Fly might cover with her Wings. 

 Also he made a Ship that a little Bee might hide with her 

 Wings. 1 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 Of Hearing. 



OF Hearing there is one Example which is wonderful : 

 that the Battle in which Sybaris was destroyed was heard at 

 Olympia on the very same Day it was fought. For the Cim- 



1 Peculiarities of eyesight are also recorded in ancient authors. The 

 Emperor Tiberius was able to see better than other men by night ; and 

 contrary to the usual habit, best when he first opened his eyes from sleep. 

 Such was also the case with the philosopher Cardan. Fabricius ab Aqua- 

 pendente knew a man who could see well by night, but not by day; and 

 the Editor was acquainted with two brothers, whose vision was of this 

 kind ; and it may be accounted for by the fact, that they were destitute of 

 eyebrows, and had very little eyelashes. Wern. Club. 



